Abstract
This is a case report of a 3 year-old-boy with dumbbell type neuroblastoma of III clinical stage. His first symptom was claudication of the right leg. Claudication of the left side was also observed 10 days later. First, laminectomy (T3 to T7) was undertaken to salvage the function of both legs. The tumor was resected through right thoracotomy 25 days after the laminectomy combined with intraoperative radiation therapy. Chemotherapy according to Al-protocol had also been given. Functions of both legs have been improved during 3 year and 3 months after laminectomy. We reviewed 46 cases of dumbbell type neuroblastoma reported in Japan. Having analyzed these cases, we have found following facts, 1) the incidence was 1.4 times higher in boys than in girls, 2) prognosis is better in the cases younger than 2 year-old, 3) no functional improvement could be expected without decompression laminectomy within 6 weeks after spinal symptoms.
